Benefits of Outdoor Recreation
Marina Vista Parks encompasses outdoor recreation activities as its main entity. A large field and many amenities built surrounding it, the park features countless benefits of the following activities for the park's surrounding community. The main 5 uses of my park for outdoor recreation include: 1. The Soccer Field, 2. The Baseball Field, 3. The Tennis Court, 4. The Jogging Path, and 5. The Playground Equipment. For each of these outdoor recreation amenities Marina Vista Park offers to its users, the main 5 benefits I have focused on include: 1. Physical, 2. Cognitive, 3. Social, 4. Self-Image, and 5. Economic. I have decided to separate each outdoor recreation amenity, following by an explanation of all 5 of its outdoor recreation benefits to provide thorough and detailed explanation of its use and positive outcomes for its users of the surrounding community of Marina Vista Park.
1. Soccer Field
Marina Vista Park offers a large grass field that is developed into a soccer field for the youth and surrounding community during each soccer season. Benefits include:
1. Physical: According to the Live Strong article, soccer not only improves fitness and endurance which benefits players physical ability, but it has many other benefits that are just as important. "Soccer players need to be fit and agile. Most games require children to sprint after the ball and jog up and down the field, which are activities that build endurance and speed. Dribbling and shooting the ball develops agility and coordination. The health benefits of active sports such as soccer include stronger bones and muscles, decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and decreased chance of becoming overweight, according to Kids Health from Nemours. " Being physically active also lessens ones stress levels, creating a habit of being physically fit, and participating in a balanced healthy lifestyle. With Marina Vista Park offering 2 large soccer fields with vast open space to play, this contributes to its physical benefits.
2. Cognitive and 3. Social: Soccer enhances cognitive skills, such as hand-eye coordination and motor skills. Working in a team and needing to follow the rules of the game, it develops cognitive skills and social skills at a young age. According tot he Live Strong article I researched, " Playing with a soccer team develops a child’s ability to cooperate and interact with other children. To win a soccer game, the whole team must communicate and work together. Defensive positions must support the midfield and offensive positions during attacks on the opponents’ goal. Offensive positions must return to their own goal to help the defensive positions when they are under pressure from the other team. To move the ball up the field, players pass the ball, which requires communicating. These types of cooperative activities develop a child's social abilities. Children who play soccer develop self-confidence and improved social skills." Since soccer is built upon the success of a team as a whole, rather than the success of one individual players, it is a sport that puts less pressure on each player. Unlike a sport such as baseball, where each player must bat or field a ball on their own skill set, soccer strives for teamwork and communication, enhancing each player's ability to focus on each player as a whole, rather on their own abilities.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/147567-what-are-the-benefits-of-soccer-for-kids/
4. Self Image: According to U.S National Soccer Players, "In addition to these physical benefits, your soccer player should experience a heightened sense of self-confidence and increased social skills. Playing on a team with other peers forces you to interact in ways you wouldn't learn at school. To win as a team, you must play as a team, which includes passing and communicating on the field. Your child may learn he is better at communicating on the soccer field than he has been anywhere else up to that point. There are fewer chances for individual humiliation on the soccer field (although it can happen). Generally, team actions are noticed more than individual actions."
Even though, as a parent, you may be worried about your child finding time for schoolwork when he or she is also juggling going to soccer practice or games, studies have shown that children who play competitive sports generally also perform at an above-average level in school. Whether this results from an increase in self confidence, or an increase in physical energy which helps mental energy and stamina, it is good for your child to learn the lesson of balance in his or her daily life.
http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/2009/11/youth-soccer-the-benefits-for-your-child.html
5. Economic: As far as the benefits for the park are considered, playing any sport on using the park's grounds costs money. This money goes back into the community to develop youth sports and create more involvement for the surrounding community neighborhoods as a whole. There are two fields at Marina Vista Park for soccer use - field 1 and 2A or 2B. These fields cost money to maintain for soccer use and the money that team sports pay the city, go back into developing the proper field work needed to play soccer at Marina Vista Park.
http://www.teamsideline.com/Org/Locations.aspx?d=vG%2Bsx0%2FWGXvlhohshsA9XQ%3D%3D
http://wordpress.lbyso.org/
Marina Vista Park offers a large grass field that is developed into a soccer field for the youth and surrounding community during each soccer season. Benefits include:
1. Physical: According to the Live Strong article, soccer not only improves fitness and endurance which benefits players physical ability, but it has many other benefits that are just as important. "Soccer players need to be fit and agile. Most games require children to sprint after the ball and jog up and down the field, which are activities that build endurance and speed. Dribbling and shooting the ball develops agility and coordination. The health benefits of active sports such as soccer include stronger bones and muscles, decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and decreased chance of becoming overweight, according to Kids Health from Nemours. " Being physically active also lessens ones stress levels, creating a habit of being physically fit, and participating in a balanced healthy lifestyle. With Marina Vista Park offering 2 large soccer fields with vast open space to play, this contributes to its physical benefits.
2. Cognitive and 3. Social: Soccer enhances cognitive skills, such as hand-eye coordination and motor skills. Working in a team and needing to follow the rules of the game, it develops cognitive skills and social skills at a young age. According tot he Live Strong article I researched, " Playing with a soccer team develops a child’s ability to cooperate and interact with other children. To win a soccer game, the whole team must communicate and work together. Defensive positions must support the midfield and offensive positions during attacks on the opponents’ goal. Offensive positions must return to their own goal to help the defensive positions when they are under pressure from the other team. To move the ball up the field, players pass the ball, which requires communicating. These types of cooperative activities develop a child's social abilities. Children who play soccer develop self-confidence and improved social skills." Since soccer is built upon the success of a team as a whole, rather than the success of one individual players, it is a sport that puts less pressure on each player. Unlike a sport such as baseball, where each player must bat or field a ball on their own skill set, soccer strives for teamwork and communication, enhancing each player's ability to focus on each player as a whole, rather on their own abilities.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/147567-what-are-the-benefits-of-soccer-for-kids/
4. Self Image: According to U.S National Soccer Players, "In addition to these physical benefits, your soccer player should experience a heightened sense of self-confidence and increased social skills. Playing on a team with other peers forces you to interact in ways you wouldn't learn at school. To win as a team, you must play as a team, which includes passing and communicating on the field. Your child may learn he is better at communicating on the soccer field than he has been anywhere else up to that point. There are fewer chances for individual humiliation on the soccer field (although it can happen). Generally, team actions are noticed more than individual actions."
Even though, as a parent, you may be worried about your child finding time for schoolwork when he or she is also juggling going to soccer practice or games, studies have shown that children who play competitive sports generally also perform at an above-average level in school. Whether this results from an increase in self confidence, or an increase in physical energy which helps mental energy and stamina, it is good for your child to learn the lesson of balance in his or her daily life.
http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/2009/11/youth-soccer-the-benefits-for-your-child.html
5. Economic: As far as the benefits for the park are considered, playing any sport on using the park's grounds costs money. This money goes back into the community to develop youth sports and create more involvement for the surrounding community neighborhoods as a whole. There are two fields at Marina Vista Park for soccer use - field 1 and 2A or 2B. These fields cost money to maintain for soccer use and the money that team sports pay the city, go back into developing the proper field work needed to play soccer at Marina Vista Park.
http://www.teamsideline.com/Org/Locations.aspx?d=vG%2Bsx0%2FWGXvlhohshsA9XQ%3D%3D
http://wordpress.lbyso.org/
The photo on the left is the actual field at Marina Vista Park that is designated for soccer use. Although it is not soccer season, I wanted to incorporate a photo of the field at the park to show its visual size. The photo on the right portrays a few of the benefits of soccer including, team work, social skills, and self-image. With the surrounding community having a large majority of youth and adolescents, soccer is a great contribution to its users of the park, providing physical fitness, cognitive and social skills, establishing self image, and providing economic benefits to the neighboring community to help provide a well balanced lifestyle for each member of the soccer community.
2. Baseball Field
The park also includes a baseball field that is fully equipped with high rise benches, water fountains, a fully lined dirt field and a protective steel netting facing the street for safety of the surrounding community. The baseball field is used by all ages, but majority of youth and young adult minor league teams occupy its use. Benefits include:
1. Physical: According to the Live Strong article, overall fitness demands for baseball players begins at a young age. Baseball players must highly fit in order to meet the physical demands of the game. According to the Sports Fitness Advisor website, "a professional baseball player tends to be lean, with a body fat percentage of between 8 and 9, and able to run 60 yards in less than seven seconds. For the average non-athlete, however, baseball can be an enjoyable recreational activity that requires a low level of physical conditioning, as the game usually consists of long periods of standing and waiting punctuated by the occasional burst of activity." Still, baseball provides health benefits for many physical strengths including muscular and cardiovascular conditioning. One of the main skills in baseball is the ability to throw a ball various distances. Throwing a ball consistently develops muscles in the biceps, deltoid, and muscles of the arm. This physical benefit is specifically true of pitchers. The game also requires running; either throughout the bases or fielding to catch a ball, this builds leg muscles. Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Dick Mills on his website Pitching.com cites a study indicating that low-velocity exercise such as weight training won't improve a high-velocity activity such as pitching.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/546884-what-are-the-health-benefits-of-baseball/
2. Cognitive and 3. Social: According to the article "Are Little League Sports Beneficial to Young Children?", any organized youth sport allows children the opportunity to interact with other children of their own age, building friendships within peer groups they might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience. Participation in Little League sports is beneficial to young children in teaching them sportsmanship, permitting them the opportunity to learn how to deal with defeat and success in a structured and supervised atmosphere. Organized youth sports allow your children to develop self-esteem and confidence while teaching the benefits of camaraderie as well as instilling in them the importance of teamwork. Baseball allows for teamwork, as well as individual self development by focusing on drills that allow each player to build the abilities to hit and field a ball on their own. Each member of a little league team needs to work on their own ability to combine as a team.
http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/little-league-sports-beneficial-young-children-4073.html
4. Relational: Little League sports are valuable in introducing young children to the benefits of cooperation and working toward a common goal. Teaching children about the benefits of teamwork has far-reaching ramifications that will transcend the field of play. Being a member of a team will show your child that she doesn’t have to always be a superstar to help her team succeed. For example, in a game of baseball, even if your child does not get a hit, she can learn she is helping her team win by helping a base runner move to the next base and into a position to score a run, even if she makes an out herself.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/high-school/looking-at-youth-baseball-from-the-inside/
5. Economic: Similarly to Marina Vista Park's soccer fields, the baseball field requires upkeep and maintenance that is provided through the city. Such sports bring money to the community, furthering the development of more organized youth sports and enhancing the surrounding neighborhoods as a whole.
The photo on the left is the actual baseball field at Marina Vista Park. The photo in the center shows social connection of baseball little league team, winning a game. The photo on the right is a form of marketing through a sign that I found posted on the baseball field at the park, showing economic benefit for the park with the website and additional information of how to get involved with baseball at Marina Vista Park. Similarly to the use of the park's soccer fields, with the surrounding community having a large majority of youth and adolescents, baseball also contributes benefits to its users. Although the baseball field is occupied on a much smaller scale than the soccer fields are, the park provides physical fitness, cognitive and social skills, establishing self image, and providing economic benefits to the neighboring community to help provide a well balanced lifestyle for each member of the baseball community.
3. Tennis Court
Marina Vista Park also provides a tennis court for its users. Fully enclosed by protective fencing, the tennis court is located centrally next to the jogging path and playground equipment, in the very center of the park. A latched gate closes in the users of the tennis court, further protecting the surrounding community. The tennis court has two full courts, marked, and with benches placed in the middle of the two courts for convenience of its users. Free of charge, the tennis court itself is one of the park's most used amenities. From personal observation and being a community member of the park's surrounding neighborhood since I was a little girl, I can say that Marina Vista Park's tennis court is always in use when the beautiful California sun is shining. That being said, the tennis court is used often and appreciated by many for its personal and community benefits.
1. Physical: The tennis courts at Marina Vista Park offer countless physical benefits for its users. According to Better Health, tennis maintains your health, fitness, strength, and agility. "It has been calculated that one hour-long game of singles tennis burns around 600 calories for men and 420 calories for women." It is an excellent workout, providing physical benefits including: increasing aerobic capacities, lowering resting heart rate and blood pressure, improving metabolic function, increasing bone density, lowering body fat, improving muscle tone, strength and flexibility, and increasing reaction times.
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/Bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Tennis?open
2. Cognitive and 3. Social: Tennis is a non-impact sport that offers a way for people of the same passion to spend time with their friends with less hands on contact, such as soccer or baseball. Enhancing your cognitive skills by increasing your hand-eye coordination, and quicker reaction time, tennis is an excellent way to build your brain muscles. At the same time, it releases stress, and allows for better maintenance of your self-image and a balanced life style. Tennis also helps you to develop a work ethic because improvement through lessons or practice reinforces the value of hard work. Unlike soccer or baseball, tennis teaches you to compete one-on-one because the ability to compete and fight trains you through the up and downs in a competitive sport.
http://www.usta.com/Improve-Your-Game/Sport-Science/114688_Health_Benefits_of_Tennis_Why_Play_Tennis/
4. Relational: Tennis is suitable for all ages and skill levels. According to Better Health, tennis is not dependent on youth or strength- you can play this particular sport for an entire lifetime or start the game at any age, which relationally positively affects one's friendships and networking in the sport. I personally have played tennis with people of all ages at Marina Vista Park's courts and believe it is a great way to make new friends and positively impact each member of the surrounding community, enhancing tolerance and diversity of all.
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/Bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Tennis?open
5. Economic: Unlike soccer and baseball, the tennis courts at Marina Vista Park are free for all users. This actually provides the surrounding community with a positive outlook on the use of the courts being a place for all to play in freedom.
Marina Vista Park also provides a tennis court for its users. Fully enclosed by protective fencing, the tennis court is located centrally next to the jogging path and playground equipment, in the very center of the park. A latched gate closes in the users of the tennis court, further protecting the surrounding community. The tennis court has two full courts, marked, and with benches placed in the middle of the two courts for convenience of its users. Free of charge, the tennis court itself is one of the park's most used amenities. From personal observation and being a community member of the park's surrounding neighborhood since I was a little girl, I can say that Marina Vista Park's tennis court is always in use when the beautiful California sun is shining. That being said, the tennis court is used often and appreciated by many for its personal and community benefits.
1. Physical: The tennis courts at Marina Vista Park offer countless physical benefits for its users. According to Better Health, tennis maintains your health, fitness, strength, and agility. "It has been calculated that one hour-long game of singles tennis burns around 600 calories for men and 420 calories for women." It is an excellent workout, providing physical benefits including: increasing aerobic capacities, lowering resting heart rate and blood pressure, improving metabolic function, increasing bone density, lowering body fat, improving muscle tone, strength and flexibility, and increasing reaction times.
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/Bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Tennis?open
2. Cognitive and 3. Social: Tennis is a non-impact sport that offers a way for people of the same passion to spend time with their friends with less hands on contact, such as soccer or baseball. Enhancing your cognitive skills by increasing your hand-eye coordination, and quicker reaction time, tennis is an excellent way to build your brain muscles. At the same time, it releases stress, and allows for better maintenance of your self-image and a balanced life style. Tennis also helps you to develop a work ethic because improvement through lessons or practice reinforces the value of hard work. Unlike soccer or baseball, tennis teaches you to compete one-on-one because the ability to compete and fight trains you through the up and downs in a competitive sport.
http://www.usta.com/Improve-Your-Game/Sport-Science/114688_Health_Benefits_of_Tennis_Why_Play_Tennis/
4. Relational: Tennis is suitable for all ages and skill levels. According to Better Health, tennis is not dependent on youth or strength- you can play this particular sport for an entire lifetime or start the game at any age, which relationally positively affects one's friendships and networking in the sport. I personally have played tennis with people of all ages at Marina Vista Park's courts and believe it is a great way to make new friends and positively impact each member of the surrounding community, enhancing tolerance and diversity of all.
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/Bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Tennis?open
5. Economic: Unlike soccer and baseball, the tennis courts at Marina Vista Park are free for all users. This actually provides the surrounding community with a positive outlook on the use of the courts being a place for all to play in freedom.
The photo on the left visually shows the fencing of the tennis court and the two entrances and exits that are must use to get into the tennis court area. The photo in the center demonstrates the tennis court community at Marina Vista Park, displaying social and relational abilities used when playing tennis. The photo is also a good example of the surrounding community, being mainly Caucasian and middle-aged that use the tennis court. The final photo on the right is a better description of the tennis court's size and showing the proper use of the fencing for safety of the surrounding community. The tennis court is located a couple hundred feet from the play ground equipment and jogging path, therefore it is crucial that players are enclosed, so that they do not accidentally injure another user of the park that is passing by.
4. Jogging Path
Marina Vista Park has a well developed and fully paved jogging path through the park and along the Marine Stadium, which overlooks the water. It is a gorgeous place to interact in physical activity, build cognitive and social skills between the neighboring community, and de-stress in a stressful day to day world. The jogging path at Marina Vista Park is used by the youth to the elderly, and various aspects of the demographic make-up in the surrounding community. The benefits of the jogging path include:
1. Physical: According to Fitness Health 101, "jogging is among the most popular weight loss programs performed today." Jogging provides your entire body vigorous cardiovascular workout, exercise, toning your core and legs, and moderates your health and overall fitness. Hamstrings, quadriceps, hip flexors, gluteals, and calf muscles of your legs and core area all work as you run, jog, or walk. It is also one of the greatest workouts for the heart. It elevates the heart rate to target heart rate levels, maintains those levels, and enforces the lungs to breathe deeper, giving the lower body more oxygen. A 30-minute jog routine burns between 240-400 calories for a 150 pound person. That being said, the physical benefits for the jogging path are countless.
http://www.fitnesshealth101.com/fitness/weight-loss/programs/jogging
2. Cognitive and 3. Social: Aside from the many physical benefits of the jogging trail, being outdoors and breathing in fresh air is good for your mind. It allows you space to de-stress, think, and escape the concrete jungle of urban society. One of the many benefits of using the Marina Vista jogging path is the surrounding community of joggers, walkers, exercise mothers, and the vast diversity of people who gather to use the same path. Jogging along this path is a great way to make friends and develop a healthy lifestyle in a community of people who share the same values of you. The jogging trail also contributes to society as a whole. Whether you are running for pleasure, or training for a race, this specific jogging trail is a major positive for the community. I have personally used the jogging trail at Marina Vista Park for years, running, walking ,and jogging with a community of family and friends who live in the surrounding community. There is nothing more rewarding than beginning your day along the path, preparing your mind to take on the day ahead of you.
http://www.theclymb.com/stories/out-there/6-mind-body-benefits-trail-running/
http://running.about.com/od/running101/a/communitybnft.htm
4, Self-Image: Jogging allows you to feel better about yourself as an overall activity. Clearing your mind, beginning your day on the right foot (pun intended), and allowing yourself to reach your best mental and physical potential, jogging gives you the best self-image of yourself.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/25/the-benefits-of-group-running/?_r=0
5. Economic: Along with the tennis court at Marina Vista Park, the jogging path is free and economically friendly for all users and the surrounding community. According to Fitness Health 101, "jogging is an excellent aerobic activity that is effective, inexpensive, and easily performed."
http://www.fitnesshealth101.com/fitness/weight-loss/programs/jogging
Marina Vista Park has a well developed and fully paved jogging path through the park and along the Marine Stadium, which overlooks the water. It is a gorgeous place to interact in physical activity, build cognitive and social skills between the neighboring community, and de-stress in a stressful day to day world. The jogging path at Marina Vista Park is used by the youth to the elderly, and various aspects of the demographic make-up in the surrounding community. The benefits of the jogging path include:
1. Physical: According to Fitness Health 101, "jogging is among the most popular weight loss programs performed today." Jogging provides your entire body vigorous cardiovascular workout, exercise, toning your core and legs, and moderates your health and overall fitness. Hamstrings, quadriceps, hip flexors, gluteals, and calf muscles of your legs and core area all work as you run, jog, or walk. It is also one of the greatest workouts for the heart. It elevates the heart rate to target heart rate levels, maintains those levels, and enforces the lungs to breathe deeper, giving the lower body more oxygen. A 30-minute jog routine burns between 240-400 calories for a 150 pound person. That being said, the physical benefits for the jogging path are countless.
http://www.fitnesshealth101.com/fitness/weight-loss/programs/jogging
2. Cognitive and 3. Social: Aside from the many physical benefits of the jogging trail, being outdoors and breathing in fresh air is good for your mind. It allows you space to de-stress, think, and escape the concrete jungle of urban society. One of the many benefits of using the Marina Vista jogging path is the surrounding community of joggers, walkers, exercise mothers, and the vast diversity of people who gather to use the same path. Jogging along this path is a great way to make friends and develop a healthy lifestyle in a community of people who share the same values of you. The jogging trail also contributes to society as a whole. Whether you are running for pleasure, or training for a race, this specific jogging trail is a major positive for the community. I have personally used the jogging trail at Marina Vista Park for years, running, walking ,and jogging with a community of family and friends who live in the surrounding community. There is nothing more rewarding than beginning your day along the path, preparing your mind to take on the day ahead of you.
http://www.theclymb.com/stories/out-there/6-mind-body-benefits-trail-running/
http://running.about.com/od/running101/a/communitybnft.htm
4, Self-Image: Jogging allows you to feel better about yourself as an overall activity. Clearing your mind, beginning your day on the right foot (pun intended), and allowing yourself to reach your best mental and physical potential, jogging gives you the best self-image of yourself.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/25/the-benefits-of-group-running/?_r=0
5. Economic: Along with the tennis court at Marina Vista Park, the jogging path is free and economically friendly for all users and the surrounding community. According to Fitness Health 101, "jogging is an excellent aerobic activity that is effective, inexpensive, and easily performed."
http://www.fitnesshealth101.com/fitness/weight-loss/programs/jogging
The photo on the left is visually pleasing, showing the actual jogging path at the Marina Vista Park. Located directly next to the Marine Stadium and Bay, the path is pleasant, well paved, safe, and full of the surrounding community users. The photo on the right is an example of a class, that is free to join, where mothers in the community use the jogging path, benefitting them physically, cognitively, socially, and economically. I believe this photo is a successful example of how the jogging path is utilized at the park by the neighboring community. It also shows that the community demographically includes many mothers with young children who desire community, while engaging in a physical activity. Located at the community park, it is a walking distance from their home, and conveniently located in their neighborhood.
5. Playground Equipment
Lastly, a major outdoor recreation amenity that is utilized at the Marina Vista Park is the playground equipment. With the surrounding community having a large demographic of adolescence and youth, the playground equipment benefits this population in the following ways:
1. Physical: According to Live Strong, The Surgeon General reported in January 2010 that almost one in every three children in the United States is overweight or obese. Playground equipment gets children moving and having fun at the same time. Slides provide climbing exercise for the legs; bars exercise arms and shoulders; jungle gyms strengthen arms, legs and shoulders; and all the equipment together encourages children to run from one piece to another, giving them a healthy dose of cardiovascular, heart-healthy exercise. Play And Park also recognizes that playground equipment stretches all muscle groups, upper body muscle groups, lower body muscle groups, overall stability and balance, and the core muscle group.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/239867-what-are-the-benefits-of-childrens-playground-equipment/
http://playandpark.com/play-programs/play-on/
2. Cognitive and 3, Social: Playground equipment appeals to families and children because of the interaction children experience when they interact with one another. They may have never met one another prior, but once on the playground, children are able to be one - regardless of their demographics and backgrounds - are simply able to play. According to Live Strong, on the playground, children learn how to take turns, exercise their self control when waiting for the slide, are able to observe of other children interact, and have conversation while swinging on the swings and playing in the sand. While socially interacting with other children, a child is growing mental and cognitive skills of their very own that they develop and utilize in their daily lives. Playground equipment also build memory, problem solving, imagery and visualization. It develops motor skills and hand-eye coordination, enhancing cognitive skills as a whole. Linnea Anderson, writing about the history of playgrounds in the U.S. for the infed website, explains that early playground advocates believed that social interaction in playgrounds benefits the country as a whole, building “citizenship and neighborliness” when children from different races and economic levels have a chance to play together. That is way I believe cognitive skills and social skills tie into one another, affecting mental growth and benefits for every child in the surrounding community.
http://www.ooeygooey.com/the-developmental-benefits-of-playgrounds/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/239867-what-are-the-benefits-of-childrens-playground-equipment/
4. Self-Image: The community playground equipment at Marina Vista Park allows pushes children to conquer their fears and gain success in mastering them. Something as simple as sliding down a big scary slide gives children the boost of self-confidence they need to develop to achieve greatness in their lives, and not be afraid of fear holding them back. Playground equipment enhances self-image, increases self-esteem and self-confidence.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/239867-what-are-the-benefits-of-childrens-playground-equipment/
http://www.kidsafewa.com.au/playgroundimportance.htm
5. Economic: As most city parks, the playground equipment at Marina Vista Park is economically inviting for the surrounding community, being free of charge to use. I believe it is an importance aspect of the park because it does not exclude anyone of the surrounding population who may not be able to give the children the positive benefits if the park cost money to use. Considering the demographics of the surrounding community, the overall people could afford to use the park if there was an entrance fee, however, I believe this is one of the key elements that make playground equipment what it is - free for all to develop, creative, imagine, and play.
Lastly, a major outdoor recreation amenity that is utilized at the Marina Vista Park is the playground equipment. With the surrounding community having a large demographic of adolescence and youth, the playground equipment benefits this population in the following ways:
1. Physical: According to Live Strong, The Surgeon General reported in January 2010 that almost one in every three children in the United States is overweight or obese. Playground equipment gets children moving and having fun at the same time. Slides provide climbing exercise for the legs; bars exercise arms and shoulders; jungle gyms strengthen arms, legs and shoulders; and all the equipment together encourages children to run from one piece to another, giving them a healthy dose of cardiovascular, heart-healthy exercise. Play And Park also recognizes that playground equipment stretches all muscle groups, upper body muscle groups, lower body muscle groups, overall stability and balance, and the core muscle group.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/239867-what-are-the-benefits-of-childrens-playground-equipment/
http://playandpark.com/play-programs/play-on/
2. Cognitive and 3, Social: Playground equipment appeals to families and children because of the interaction children experience when they interact with one another. They may have never met one another prior, but once on the playground, children are able to be one - regardless of their demographics and backgrounds - are simply able to play. According to Live Strong, on the playground, children learn how to take turns, exercise their self control when waiting for the slide, are able to observe of other children interact, and have conversation while swinging on the swings and playing in the sand. While socially interacting with other children, a child is growing mental and cognitive skills of their very own that they develop and utilize in their daily lives. Playground equipment also build memory, problem solving, imagery and visualization. It develops motor skills and hand-eye coordination, enhancing cognitive skills as a whole. Linnea Anderson, writing about the history of playgrounds in the U.S. for the infed website, explains that early playground advocates believed that social interaction in playgrounds benefits the country as a whole, building “citizenship and neighborliness” when children from different races and economic levels have a chance to play together. That is way I believe cognitive skills and social skills tie into one another, affecting mental growth and benefits for every child in the surrounding community.
http://www.ooeygooey.com/the-developmental-benefits-of-playgrounds/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/239867-what-are-the-benefits-of-childrens-playground-equipment/
4. Self-Image: The community playground equipment at Marina Vista Park allows pushes children to conquer their fears and gain success in mastering them. Something as simple as sliding down a big scary slide gives children the boost of self-confidence they need to develop to achieve greatness in their lives, and not be afraid of fear holding them back. Playground equipment enhances self-image, increases self-esteem and self-confidence.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/239867-what-are-the-benefits-of-childrens-playground-equipment/
http://www.kidsafewa.com.au/playgroundimportance.htm
5. Economic: As most city parks, the playground equipment at Marina Vista Park is economically inviting for the surrounding community, being free of charge to use. I believe it is an importance aspect of the park because it does not exclude anyone of the surrounding population who may not be able to give the children the positive benefits if the park cost money to use. Considering the demographics of the surrounding community, the overall people could afford to use the park if there was an entrance fee, however, I believe this is one of the key elements that make playground equipment what it is - free for all to develop, creative, imagine, and play.
The photo on the left shows the playground equipment at the Marina Vista Park. It is developed, with a new addition of a shade structure and sand that is easy to play on for most children, and is located right in front to the parking lot - the first thing you see and is easy to use as you drive in to the park. The photo on the right demonstrates the freedom children feel as they interact on the playground equipment, benefitting them an as entire being.